Author Anon

“Detective Cody Daze, please,” says Belle.

The officer at the front desk opens a door behind him and sticks his head in. “Daze! You available?” The officer comes back and directs Belle through the door.

Belle walks down a row of desks to get to Cody. “I’m glad you could see me,” she says.

“Miss Silverman, correct?” asks Cody.

“Yes, I remember you when you were helping Michael and Amanda.”

“What can I do for you?” asks Cody.

“I’d like to know what I can do to recover some stolen property,” says Belle.

“Do you know who stole it and where it is?”

“Yes,” says Belle.

“Can’t you go and ask for it back?” Cody asks.

“No,” says Belle. “I don’t think I’d be able to get it back that way.”

“Can you please give me the circumstances surrounding the theft?”

“Well, I had something that went missing around Christmas time. Although I can’t say how it happened, I know who came by it and what they’ve done with it.”

“I think I’ll need more details.”

Belle lowers her head and sighs. “Detective, I’m a designer. As soon as I finish school, my friend and I were going to open up a boutique based on my designs. My briefcase, with my sketches, went missing at the Christmas ball my family held. I never recovered it. Recently, a boutique opened and I recognized my designs, done up in the most horrid fashion. I know the owners must have taken my sketches. I’m determined to get them back and undo some of the damage they have done with the designs. I found these girls in my room on the night of the ball, but I let them go when they told me they were just admiring my room. I didn’t think of it until I walked into their shop.”

“I see,” says Cody, thoughtfully. “One thing you can do is get a search warrant to recover your property. You don’t have to have definite proof but, in your case, you do have a sufficient degree of suspicion to convince a judge to get you the warrant.”

“Will you be able to get me one?” asks Belle.

“I’ll do my best.”

“Thank you. Time is of the essence.”

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“We need your opinion on allowing Blanche Albright into the business,” says William.

“Shouldn’t Tracy be in on the discussion?” asks Jason.

“I’m not going to wait to have her here for a conference,” says William. “After we’ve had our discussion, I will bring it up to her and get her side.”

“We should start with you, David,” says Robert. “After all, I think you have the most cause for complaint.”

“You know Blanche did not shoot me,” says David. “Even if she wanted to.”

“How would you feel about her being a part of the company?” asks William.

“How likely is that going to be?” asks David in return.

“We don’t know but we’d like to plan for any eventualities,” says William.

“I’ve always felt she hated me, but I didn’t know why until recently,” says David. “But I never let it get to me. In fact, I think I enjoyed trying to bait her and see if she would show her feelings. I wouldn’t mind having her in the clan. I don’t know how she’d feel about it, though.”

“I don’t think it’s fair to have her in the company,” says Marie. “Mother worked hard to build it up and Blanche had nothing to do with it. She caused the family a lot of embarrassment.”

“What about you, Dan?” asks Robert.

Dan hesitates. “I’m not sure I have much to say on the subject, so you should just put me down as undecided. Or you can count me as one with Marie.”

William rolls his eyes. “And you, Jason?”

“I tend to agree with Marie,” says Jason. “But in the interest of letting bygones be bygones and trying to make up for the past, etc., etc., and just in general for a peaceful resolution, I’m willing to allow for her to join us.”

“Hmmm. It seems we’re pretty split still,” says William. “I’ll have to get Tracy’s opinion. As it stands, I’m behind Marie and Dan. The rest of you are willing to either let her in or go either way.”

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“We miss Lucas, dear,” says Carol.

“I know, mom,” says Amanda. “But we’ve decided to let him spend time with each of us and see which he likes most.”

“That’s putting a lot of pressure on a three-year old. And I doubt he’s the best judge.”

“We had to do something,” says Amanda. “And I didn’t want to be the one to make that decision. Leaving it to the courts was also not a very good option.”

“I suppose not,” says Carol. “I guess that leaves you more time to plan your wedding. Have you decided when it will be?”

“It will have to wait until I’m done with residency. I’m hoping by the end of summer or early fall.”

“What does Michael say to that?”

“Well, he’d be happier if it was tomorrow, but he’s leaving it up to me.”

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“I may not have much right to ask this of you,” says Blanche, “but I wondered if you’d represent my interests?”

Michael stares at her in surprise. “Blanche, I don’t think I can represent you. Nothing personal. Because I represented Julia’s interests, I’m afraid it may conflict with your own interests.”

“I see,” says Blanche. “You seem, to me, to be a very conscientious and ethical young man. Perhaps you can give me a good recommendation on someone to represent my interests.”

“I will try,” says Michael. “It will be somewhat tricky. As I’ve said, your interests may conflict with Julia’s.”

“But I don’t think I could be wrong in my assessment of you,” says Blanche. “I don’t think you’d recommend someone incompetent to me.”

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Filed under: All That Glitters